starter activity

Slaves waiting for the auction to begin. Imagine you are one of the people waiting at auction. List the thoughts that are going through your mind.

What were What were conditions like conditions like

on the on the plantationsplantations??

How were slaves prepared How were slaves prepared for auction?for auction?

Washed with waterWashed with water Rubbed with oilRubbed with oil Gunpowder, hot tar Gunpowder, hot tar

or rust rubbed into or rust rubbed into woundswounds

Teeth inspectedTeeth inspected Brutal remedies, e.g. Brutal remedies, e.g.

for diarrhoeafor diarrhoea Two methods of sale Two methods of sale

– auction & scramble– auction & scramble

What does this C19th poster tell us about the way slaves were treated by plantation owners?

What sort of lives did What sort of lives did they lead?they lead?

Branded on face, chest Branded on face, chest or backor back

3-4 year-olds work in 3-4 year-olds work in ‘trash gangs’ ‘trash gangs’ (weeding)(weeding)

9-12 year-olds work in 9-12 year-olds work in fields with adultsfields with adults

Elderly worked as Elderly worked as domestic servantsdomestic servants

No legal rights – No legal rights – forbidden to read, forbidden to read, write, marry own write, marry own propertyproperty

Flogging & other Flogging & other punishmentspunishments

How would you feel if you were branded with one of these

irons?

PunishmentsPunishments Rebellions – rebels Rebellions – rebels

nailed to ground, fire nailed to ground, fire applied starting at the applied starting at the feet and moving feet and moving upwardsupwards

Running away – neck Running away – neck ring or iron muzzlering or iron muzzle

Continued running Continued running away – removal of hand away – removal of hand or footor foot

Flogging – one lash for Flogging – one lash for each year of slave’s lifeeach year of slave’s life How old do you think this

slave was? Average life expectancy was 26. Why do you think it was so low?

Working dayWorking day 5:30 – go straight to field. Work until 5:30 – go straight to field. Work until

8.00am. Latecomers whipped8.00am. Latecomers whipped 8:00 – Stop work for breakfast: boiled 8:00 – Stop work for breakfast: boiled yamyam

& & okra okra seasoned with salt & pepperseasoned with salt & pepper 8:30 - Continue work8:30 - Continue work 12:00 pm – Rest & lunch: salted meat or 12:00 pm – Rest & lunch: salted meat or

pickled fishpickled fish 2:00pm – Start work again2:00pm – Start work again 6:00pm – Return to huts6:00pm – Return to huts Night time – During harvest, work in mill or Night time – During harvest, work in mill or

boilings houses through nightboilings houses through night

Your taskYour task

Read through the sources and Read through the sources and highlight evidence according to the highlight evidence according to the key below. Do you think life on the key below. Do you think life on the plantations was any better than plantations was any better than conditions slaves experienced during conditions slaves experienced during the middle passage?the middle passage?